T'Sagda

Renowned for their fierce warrior culture, the Tsagda have lived off the verdant lands of the Tand Zul basin for centuries, hail originally from barren tundras north of the Tai Yang Empire. As their ancestors began to learn the ways of animal husbandry and pastoralism, they would venture further and further from the bitter cold of their home lands, eventually discovering and settling in the lush valley known as the Tand Zul. The history and traditions of the Tsagda are shared almost entirely oral, with a few marks and universal symbols shared between tribes to be used as warnings or statements of conquered territory. A single tribe usually comprises a handful of clans that band together for mutual protection (usually from other T'Sagda). Each community is lead both by a council of family elders, and by a Khan. The council and the Khan have distinct spheres of influence, with the council serving more domestic purposes (such as settling disputes), while the Khan is responsible for the security of the tribe.Sometimes if a member of a tribe has committed an agrievous crime, the council will exile that person. These Mogoltaa often resort to raiding and barbarism, and carry with them huge social stigma within their society. Since Mogoltaa frequently leave the basin to raid surrounding settlements, many foreigners have a very negative opinion of the Tsagda people.The image of them as savage raiders tarnishes what is an otherwise honorable culture. Family and the Tribe is the most important thing to the Tsagdaa. To have no family is to be immediately considered Mogoltaa, unworthy of trust and entirely without honor. This means that families are incredibly close and the size of the family is the true measure of a T'Sagda's worth. A bigger family means more influence and the ability to manage and tend to bigger herds.Not all Mogoltaa are criminals or the last of their family line, some enter this fate through loosing their steed. Being able to ride and tend the cattle and horse herds that provide sustenance is extremely important, and is another measure of the worth of a T'Sagda. The T'Sagda do not ride horses, but upon completing his rite of passage, a T'Sagda is gifted by his Khan with a vhunok, a massive woolen rhinoceros. It is in great part due to these steeds that the T'Sagda are the most feared cavalry in the world. When a vhunok is gifted, a shaman performs a rite joining the soul of the rider and the mount. Vhunok live a long time, but if one perishes before the rider, the T'Sagda is expected to also take his own life or quickly seek an end in battle. If he does not, it brings great shame upon him, and regardless of the reason, he must leave and fall in with the Mogoltaa.

Standard Racial Traits

Ability Score Racial Traits: T'Sagda are quick, cagey and deft with a lie or a threat, but they are ignorant and superstitious. They receive +2 to both Dexterity and Charisma, but -4 to Intelligence.

Size: T'Sagda are Medium creatures and thus receive no bonuses or penalties due to their size.

Type: T'Sagda are Humanoids (Human, T'Sagda).

Base Speed: The base speed of T'Sagda is 20ft.

Languages: T'Sagda begin play speaking Tosaag. T'Sagda with high Intelligence scores can choose from the following: Purana, Tai Yang or Ali'ni'lo'poa. See the Linguistics skill page for more information about these languages.

Defense Racial Traits

Dispel Shades: Life in the Vale of Shadows has trained the T'Sagda to see through simple tricks of the eye. They receive +2 on saves vs illusions.

Feat and Skill Racial Traits

Herd Empathy: +4 handle animal vs herd animals and beasts of burden.

Nomadic: T'Sagda receive a +1 on ride and survival checks. Both are considered class skills.

Rider Weapon Training: All Tsaagda are proficient with Short bows and Nets.

Saddlebond: T'Sagda receive Mounted Combat as a bonus feat.

Magical Racial Traits

Shadow Marked: When a T'Sagda benefits from concealment, the miss chance it bestows is increased by 5%.

Spell resistance: 11+ class level. T'Sagda are protected by the shades of their ancestors.

Sense Racial Traits

Low Light Vision: T'Sagda can see twice as far as normal in conditions of dim light.